Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Expected to start Thursday
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Shesterkin is set to guard the road goal against Carolina in Game 6 on Thursday, according to Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer.
Shesterkin will attempt to rebound after allowing seven goals on 58 shots (.879 save percentage) while losing his past two starts. Despite his recent setback, he's still 7-2 with a 2.33 GAA and a .924 save percentage in nine playoff appearances this year. A victory against the Hurricanes would advance the Rangers into an Eastern Conference Finals series against either Florida or Boston.
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Rangers' Dylan Garand: Summoned from AHL
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Garand was called up from AHL Hartford on Thursday.
Garand had a 3.03 GAA and an .898 save percentage in 39 regular-season contests with Hartford. He also posted a 2.32 GAA and a .931 save percentage in seven AHL playoff outings. Garand is unlikely to play for the Rangers during the 2024 playoffs.
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Rangers' Blake Wheeler: Lifted from LTIR
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Wheeler (leg) was activated from long-term injured reserve Thursday, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
It's not a clear-cut guarantee Wheeler will be in the lineup for Thursday's Game 6, but the 37-year-old is now eligible to return from a three-month absence. Wheeler was cleared for contact Monday, and it appears he's gotten in enough practice time to be an option for the Rangers as they look to close out the Hurricanes in the second round.
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Rangers' Chris Kreider: Playing in Game 6
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Kreider (undisclosed) told reporters he would be in action versus the Hurricanes for Game 6 on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Kreider didn't play it coy like coach Peter Laviolette, clearly telling reporters that he would be in the lineup Thursday. Through the first five games of this series, the 33-year-old winger has generated two goals and two assists, including three power-play points. Even with concerns about a potential minor injury, Kreider remains a top-end fantasy target heading into Game 6.
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Rangers' Chris Kreider: Status Thursday uncertain
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Kreider, who took a maintenance day Wednesday, is not a lock to suit up against Carolina in Game 6 on Thursday, though coach Peter Laviolette said it was "a real positive" that Kreider skated Thursday, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.
Kreider's potential absence could be nothing more than playoff head games being played by the Rangers bench boss, but unfortunately, fantasy players will need to monitor the situation ahead of warmups. In nine playoff appearances, the 33-year-old Kreider has generated four goals and three assists, including three power-play points. If Kreider can't go in Game 6, Will Cuylle could be shifted into a top-six role.
Rangers' Filip Chytil: Slated to be available for Thursday
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Chytil (illness) is slated to be an option for Thursday's Game 6 against Carolina, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today on Wednesday.
Chytil returned from a head injury last Thursday, but after recording a shot in 12:02 of ice time in that contest, the 24-year-old missed the past two outings due to the illness. He's also been dealing with some soreness unrelated to his previous head injury. Chytil might serve in a bottom-six role versus the Hurricanes, but it's also possible he'll be a healthy scratch.
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Rangers' Chris Kreider: Minus-3 in loss
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Kreider was on the ice for three goals against in Monday's 4-1 loss to Carolina in Game 5.
It was a forgettable night for Kreider as he failed to register a point and went minus-3 in the clash. No other Rangers player was on the ice for more than two goals against in Monday's defeat. After starting the postseason with points in six of seven games, Kreider has now failed to find the scoresheet in consecutive contests. The 33-year-old did have two shots on goal and four hits in 18:51 of ice time in his latest tilt. Kreider and the Rangers will have another chance to eliminate the Hurricanes in Game 6 on Thursday.
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Rangers' Vincent Trocheck: Held off scoresheet in loss
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Trocheck failed to register a point in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 5.
After starting the postseason with a seven-game scoring streak, Trocheck has now been held without a point in back-to-back games. The 30-year-old forward did have three shots on net, one blocked shot and six hits in 21:58 of ice time. That amount of ice time was the most of any skater in the contest, which highlights the level of trust coach Peter Laviolette has in utilizing his second-line center in all situations. Trocheck has five goals and seven assists with a minus-1 rating in nine appearances this postseason.
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Rangers' Jacob Trouba: Shorthanded goal in loss
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Trouba netted a shorthanded goal in Monday's 4-1 loss to Carolina in Game 5.
Trouba opened the scoring in the second period by firing a wrist shot past Carolina's Frederik Andersen, but that was it for New York's offensive output in the tilt. It was Trouba's first marker of the playoffs. The 30-year-old defenseman also had two shots on goal, three hits and four blocked shots in 18:38 of ice time. Trouba has four points (one goal) and a plus-1 rating in nine outings during the postseason.
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Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Back-to-back losses
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Shesterkin stopped 24 of 27 shots in Monday's 4-1 loss against Carolina in Game 5.
Shesterkin had a shutout bid with the Rangers up 1-0 entering the third period, but Carolina bested the netminder three times in the final frame before wrapping up the scoring with an empty-netter. The 28-year-old goaltender now has losses in consecutive games after seven straight victories to start the postseason. He's 7-2 with a 2.33 GAA and a .924 save percentage in the playoffs. Shesterkin and the Rangers will be in Carolina on Thursday for Game 6 of the second-round series.
Shesterkin will get the starting nod for Game 5 at home against the Hurricanes, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.
Shesterkin was riding a seven-game winning streak to begin the playoffs before Carolina finally beat him in Game 4 on Saturday. He allowed four goals on 31 shots in the loss, the first time this postseason he's allowed more than three. He's registered an impressive .925 save percentage while facing 160 shots this series.
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Rangers' Filip Chytil: Unavailable Monday
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Chytil (illness) will not play Monday against the Hurricanes, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.
On top of his illness, Chytil is reportedly also dealing with some soreness that's unrelated to the head injury that cost him nearly the entire 2023-24 campaign. He logged one shot and one hit in 12:02 of ice time during the Game 3 win against Carolina, his first game since Nov. 2. He'll be considered question for Game 6 on Thursday, if necessary.
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Rangers' Filip Chytil: Status uncertain
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Chytil (illness) remains questionable to face Carolina in Game 5 on Monday after head coach Peter Laviolette told reporters, "He practiced this morning. That's a real positive thing for our team. I'm going to keep any lineup decisions that I make to myself," per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.
The fact that Chytil didn't take part in line rushes would certainly indicate that he won't be in action Monday but fantasy managers will have to wait until closer to puck drop for official confirmation on the center's status. If he were to be cleared to play, Chytil would likely knock Jonny Brodzinski from the lineup while filling a bottom-six role.
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Rangers' Blake Wheeler: Cleared for contact
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Wheeler (leg) has shed his non-contract jersey ahead of Game 5 against the Hurricanes on Monday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Wheeler is practicing without the non-contact jersey for the first time, so it seems unlikely he will be available to play against Carolina on Monday immediately. Still, it's a positive sign for the veteran winger, who has been out of action since Feb. 15 versus the Canadiens. When Wheeler gets the all-clear, he figures to slot into a bottom-six role and could bump Jonny Brodsinski from the lineup.
Kakko logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4.
Kakko set up a Will Cuylle tally in the first period. Through eight playoff outings, Kakko has two points, 12 shots on net, six hits and a plus-1 rating. The winger had just 19 points over 61 regular-season games, and his lack of steady offense is a large reason why he's been limited to a bottom-six role in the postseason.
